Jenny Willott MP

Jenny Willott backs National Eye Health Week

Jenny Willott, Welsh Liberal Democrats MP for Cardiff Central, has pledged her support for National Eye Health Week, which takes place between 16 and 22 September.

Jenny Willott said:

"Having regular eye tests mean that we can remain active longer, but equally can also assist in the early diagnosis of illnesses including diabetes, MS, malignant eye tumours and high blood pressure.

"As somebody who relies on glasses I very much value the input of professional opticians, who ensure that I can continue to drive legally and am able to operate normally despite being short-sighted. Raising awareness through National Eye Health Week is one way of driving that message home."

National Eye Health Week brings organisations and health professionals from across the UK together to raise awareness of the importance of good eye health and the need for regular sight tests.

Ceri Jackson, Chair of the National Eye Health Week steering group in Wales, said:

"Fifty per cent of sight loss is avoidable, and the single most important thing that people can do to protect their sight is to go for a test every two years. Many people think that a sight test is just about checking whether your vision needs correcting with glasses or contact lenses, but a sight test is also a vital check of the health of the eyes and includes the detection of eye conditions. Many of these have no early symptoms, but when they are detected early then the right type of treatment could save your sight.

"National Eye Health Week is an opportunity for people to come together and raise awareness of the need to be proactive about our eye health in the same way as we would in relation to other health conditions. I hope that as many people as possible can join us during the week in doing their bit to stop people losing their sight unnecessarily."

1. Stop smoking. Smoking can double your risk of developing some eye conditions. In fact, the link is as strong as the link between smoking and lung cancer. Speak to your GP about stopping smoking.

2. Eat healthily and watch your weight. Eating a diet low in saturated fats but rich in green leafy vegetables such as spinach and broccoli may help protect against eye disease. Oranges, kiwis, nuts, seeds and oily fish may also help. Obesity can increase the risk of diabetes, which in turn could lead to sight loss.

3. Keep your eyes covered in the sun. UVA and UVB rays in sunlight can harm your eyes and may increase the risk of cataracts. Wearing sunglasses, glasses or contacts lenses with a built in UV filter will protect your eyes. Only buy sunglasses that have a CE mark or carry British Standard BSEN 1863:1997.

National Eye Health Week activities are delivered in partnership by a wide range of organisations with an interest in eye health. In Wales, the steering group is chaired by Ceri Jackson, Director of RNIB Cymru. For more information about National Eye Health Week, please visit http://www.visionmatters.org.uk/.

There are currently nearly 100,000 people in Wales who are living with sight loss and over the next 25 years the number of people with sight loss is expected to double.

Over 50 per cent of sight loss can be avoided by people wearing correctly prescribed glasses or having the right treatment at the right time.